10/04/2009
THE Northern Ireland U17 Women’s team was unlucky to lose 2-1 against Austria in a friendly international this week in Salzburg.
The home side started the game playing a 4-4-2 formation; with the visitors playing a 4-5-1. Northern Ireland started very defensively with Austria winning a few corners and also having a lot of the opening possession.
Austria took the lead on 15 minutes; however Northern Ireland started to get more composed and began to create more attacks. On 17 minutes Danielle Ennis was forced to come off with a hamstring problem; being replaced by Anna Finnegan. Austria enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half and just before the break they scored their second goal.
But after a good team talk at half-time the Northern Ireland girls came out determined to battle their way back into the game — with the visitors having a lot more possession in the second half.
And 15 minutes from the end some good play by Maeve Nethercott, Lauren Wade and Amber Dempster resulted in Lauren putting the ball in the top corner of the net with a left footed shot from almost 30 yards out.
Goalkeeper Laurel Patterson made a super double save in the second half to keep Northern Ireland in the game and also several other crucial saves.
Northern Ireland kept pushing for the equaliser with Katrina Montgomery (who had come on for Emma McPeake 15 minutes before the end) and Amber Dempster both coming close, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
However the girls should be praised for what was an impressive performance against a very strong, fast and physical Austria side — a side which had recently beaten Hungary 7-1 in an away game.
The team manager Alison Nicholl said: “The girls put in a good solid team performance — we were very, very pleased with their overall performance and believe it is something we can build on.”
Robyn McKelvie and Chloe Archibald were solid at the back throughout the game; with Robyn being named Player of the Match.
Gemma Lambe came on 10 minutes from the end for Lauren Wade. Subs not used – Rebecca Naylor and Katie Farrell.
Northern Ireland squad:
- Laurel Patterson – Newbridge Predators
- Katie Farrell
- Chloe Archibald – YMCA Ladies
- Robyn McKelvie – Glentoran Belfast Utd
- Megan Weatherall – Newbridge Predators
- Maeve Nethercott – Glentoran Belfast Utd
- Amy Doherty – Glentoran Belfast Utd
- Kendra McMullan – YMCA Ladies (Captain)
- Anna Finnegan
- Lauren Wade – Coleraine Ladies
- Amber Dempster – Northland Raiders
- Katrina Montgomery – Linfield Ladies
- Gemma Lambe – Ballymena All Stars
- Danielle Ennis – Linfield Ladies
- Emma McPeake – Lisburn Distillery
- Rebecca Naylor – Coleraine Ladies
